Hot Rods My 63 impala 409 finally begins its rebirth...

Finally a roller...

 

This part is done...



nothing like making things look factory that will never be seen. Haha
gotta paint the trunk and i'll drop it on the chassis.....finally.
Making progress...just slow and boring.
Tony

 

In the spirit of moving forward....

 

Just plain awesome. Period.
Love it....

 

i could not have said it better myself!!

 

Thanks fella's.
Im more than aware that the stuff im posting lately is pretty boring so far but the boring stuff is all i have to share at this point. Haha
Although tomorrow im planning to mate the body with chassis so that may be a little bit better.
Anyway, thanks to everyone. Much appreciated.

Tony

 

Back together again.....

 

What kind of paint is that on the floor? Looks like primer.

 

All-my-friends love the ____ _____!

Lookin' fine!

 

It is. Its a catalyzed red oxide. Its shot over an etch primer and sealed prior to top coat.

 

Tony your ride is looking good, what color will the body be painted ?

 

Thanks!
The factory color, polomar red....which is actually a maroon and not "red" at all. Lol

Tony

 

Are you putting color on the under side of the floor?

 

No thats it. Thats the way these cars, or most of them anyway, came.
Thats why i made sure to use a catalyzed products.

 

I couldn't guarantee it, but I would swear mine came with the underside flat black.

 

Wow, really looking good! Great color choice, Polomar red, first cousin to my all time favorite, Honduaras maroon.
Can't wait to see this one buttoned up. Go man go!

 

Dick some did, some didnt. 6 of the 11 Impala's i had came that way, including this one so i figured id keep it that way.
Plus honestly, i really dig the look. Haha
Thanks fella's!

Tony

 

Well, mine was painted marine aqua, so that would not have looked good with red oxide on the underneath side of the car.

 

In 1969 when I was in high school; there was an older guy up the street that had a maroon 63 with a 409, and I had black 61 with a 348, boy was I jealous of that guy.
That's going to be a beautiful car Tony.

 

@Dick Stevens ,
I agree, may not have. Although i did have a twilight blue 62 that i did just like this and unless you got down on your knee's it was hard to tell. Many of these things ended up being undercoated before they even left the factory.
I had an all original untouched black 63 impala that was like that. Had factory undercoating so the whole underside was black, but in the areas that it had fallen off the red oxide was showing. Honestly the bulk of 61-64's i've had my hands on had the red oxide throughout the car.
It really makes no difference, black, red, as long as its done right im a fan.

@DDDenny,
Thanks! My pops ordered a brand new 63 with this color and trim combo so i've always been extremely partial to it....so much so that i spent the better part of 15 years looking for the right one that came that way from GM.
Even though this car was rough as all get out, i still feel i hit the lottery when i bought it hahaha

Thanks again fella's!

Tony

 

Truly that looks like excellent workmanship! It's impressive, to say the very least!

 

MOTOV8N,
Thank you! I appreciate the very kind words.

Tony

 

Small progress, and slightly premature...
I want to be able to steer this around if need be so decided to assemble the dash/steering.
Plus im doing shit that dont cost me anything 'cause the holidays emptied my account!
Original dash pad was still perfect so i preserved that, and the steering wheel itself was in great shape too so thats still wearing original paint. The rest i restored.
Factory tilt too. Still have to install the tach gauge yet but wanted to see how it was gonna look.



Tony

 

Wow Tony, wasn't 63 the first year for tilt columns for Chevrolet?
In the early 80's, a friend of mine was putting together a 64 Malibu convert.
He looked for quite a while for a tilt column for it. Probably pretty hard to find a tilt column nowadays for a 63 Impala.
BTW Tony, some of us (me) don't consider construction shots as "boring". I like shiny paint and chrome like the next guy, but I also like the "meat and potato's" part of the build also.

 

@DDDenny

Thanks man! I appreciate it and am glad you dig the build progress stuff.

And you're right, 63 was the first year for tilt on these. They are rare and in my opinion stupid expensive for a column!
This car came with it which was pretty cool. I normally dont like tilt, but as an option on this car i do.

Thanks again!

Tony

 

Nice job keep the boring post comming. I've been doing frame on restore of my Galaxie so I know how much work and talent you're putting in this car. I love the old Ford, GM and Chrysler early 60's musle cars.

 

Thanks Judd!
Im the same, i prefer GM but i really dig all the early to mid 60's muscle regardless of make.
I could easily see a nice Galaxie like yours ( nice car btw!), or something like an early Belvedere in my garage.

Tony

 

Tony I got to ask who does that to a car, I mean hell man you take perfectly good old heap and take it completely apart.

I have not kept up with the thread, I noticed the bags. I am probably using bags on a car I am working on myself. For different reasons of course, I am using coils that are a little weak and helper bags to give myself adjustable spring rate.

That is not copy written by the way in the event that you have to deal with a hard ass like me and need a good reason for bags.

Looking good my friend, you have done that old Chebby a good turn.

 

Beeno,
Many people have asked why i take these things apart! I just tell em i dont know why, i just do!

And i appreciate the option to use your idea just in case...but you probably know me well enough by now to know i dont worry what the hard asses say...like Frank said, i do it my way. hahaha

Thank you very much for the kind words my friend, they are appreciated!!

Tony

 

It's been slooooow progress on this damn thing!
Not enough time and the holidays cleaned my wallet for supplies/parts...
But im still tryin.

The main body is stripped and ready for body work.
i just love the sight of clean rust free sheet metal....especially when 90% of the outside of this is still original metal.